Geranium plant named &#39;Zoldarkred&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Geranium  plant, particularly distinguished by the deep scarlet red flower color, very compact plant habit with medium branching, late flowering, and dark foliage.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Pelargonium zonale (L.) L'Hérit. ex Ait

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Zoldarkred’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Geranium, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale (L.) L'Hérit. ex Ait, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘Zoldarkred.’

‘Zoldarkred’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar ‘Zoldarkred’ has large, semi-double flowers, is relatively vigorous, but with a well-branched growth habit, and has good heat resistance.

‘Zoldarkred’ originates from a hybridization in a controlled breeding program in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The female parent was an unpatented hybrid seedling identified as ‘J2293-1’ with deep scarlet flower color, nice big umbel, and big flowers. The male parent of ‘Zoldarkred’ was an unpatented hybrid seedling identified as ‘H2174-5’ with deep scarlet red color, dark green foliage, and a small umbel.

‘Zoldarkred’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in 2000 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Zoldarkred’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in the Fall of 2000 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, the Netherlands.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in April of 2001 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Zoldarkred’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘Zoldarkred’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘Zoldarkred’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type. The photographic drawing shows a flowering potted plant of the new variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, in August 2005 on plants that were growing in window boxes. Culture of these plants started mid February, 2005 in the greenhouse; plants were transferred to window boxes mid May, 2005.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown outside in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Geranium as a new and distinct variety. TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘ZOLDARKRED’ AND A SIMILAR VARIETY ‘Fisrocky Dark Red’ ‘Zoldarkred’ (U.S. Plant Patent No. 12,237) Plant vigor Medium Strong Leaf color (upper side) 139A 137A Flower color 45B 40A (upper side of upper petal) PLANT Plant height (cm): 24 Plant height (inflorescence included) (cm): 33 Plant width (cm): 35 Plant shape: Round FOLIAGE Length (cm): 6.5 Width (cm): 10 Shape: Reniform Base shape: Cordate Base size (cm): 5 Apex shape: Very weak lobes Apex size (cm): 3.5 Color of upper surface: 139A Color of lower surface: 137C Color of zone: 187B, hardly any zone Color of veins: 146B Margin: Bicrenate Petioles length (cm): 4-7 Diameter of petiole (mm): 3 Leaves smooth and hairy: Only at nerves Texture of leaves: Upper surface smooth Veins: Palmate STEM: Length of internodes (mm): 15-30 Color of stem: 146C Diameter (mm): 7-8 INFLORESCENCE Shape: Round outline Diameter (cm): 12 Umbel depth (cm): 6 Length of peduncle (cm): 10-20 Peduncle diameter (mm): 4-5 Color of peduncle: 144B; 184A near umbel Length of pedicel (cm): 3-4.5 Color of pedicel: 172A Number of flowers per inflorescence: 45 COROLLA Form: Semi-double type. Space between upper and lower petals. Shape: Round outline, upper petals about the same size as the lower petals, cup shape. Length of flower (cm): 4 Width of flower (cm): 4.5 Number of petals: 8 Length of petals (upper/lower) (mm): Upper 23 Lower 23 Width of petals (upper/lower) (mm): Upper 17 Lower 17 Shape petals: Obovate, base acute, upper end is truncate or rounded, margin is entire. Color upper side of upper petals: 45B Color upper side of lower petals: 45B Color lower side of upper petals: 52A Color lower side of lower petals: 52A Number of petaloids: 6 Color petaloids: 45B Fading color when flower starts aging: Yes Duration of flowering: Continuous flowering throughout the Summer BUD (just before opening) Shape: Narrow elliptic Shape base of bud: Truncate Shape top of bud: Acuminate Sepals hairy and smooth: Yes Length (mm): 7 Width (mm): 4 Color: 144B Number of sepals: 5 Color of sepals: 147A Length of sepals (mm): 8 Width of sepals (mm): 3 REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS Number of lobes of stigma: 5 Color stigma: 46B Length of style (mm): 4 Color of style: 46C Number of anthers: 3-5 Length of anthers (mm): 3 Shape of anthers: Ovate Length filaments (mm): 8 Color of filaments: 155D, Top 58B Pollen present: No Color of pollen: 32A Fertility/seed set: No

-   Disease/pest resistance     -   -   No disease/pest resistance has been observed to date. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Geranium plant, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 